What Makes Seniors Lose Their Eyesight?

By Erik Gans, 9:00 am on January 10, 2019

Loss of eyesight can make it difficult for older adults to perform daily activities such as cooking, driving, cleaning, bathing, and navigating the home without assistance. Continue reading to learn about some of the top reasons seniors lose their eyesight.

Macular Degeneration

One of the leading causes of vision loss in seniors over the age of 65 is macular degeneration. The macula is an area in the retina that controls central vision. As seniors grow older, the macula may begin to deteriorate, causing the visual field to become dark and blurry. Aging adults who have been diagnosed with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) generally lose their central vision, regardless if they have exudative (wet) or nonexudative (dry) AMD. However, the disease may not affect peripheral vision.

Vision-related issues like macular degeneration can make it difficult for seniors to age in the comfort of home. Seniors can face a variety of challenges as they age, many of which can be mitigated with the help of professional in-home caregivers who provide high-quality elder care. Woodbridgefamilies trust Home Care Assistance to help their elderly loved ones age in place safely and comfortably.

Strokes

A large majority of seniors experience vision loss after a stroke. Losing their eyesight can be stressful and slow down the recovery process. As seniors experience blind spots in their field of vision, it may be difficult to coordinate movement and focus the eyes because of double vision and other common perception issues caused by strokes. The good news is following orders from a doctor and living a healthy lifestyle can alleviate some of the side effects of a stroke, such as vision impairment. Seniors can also lower the risk of a recurrent stroke. As the brain recovers, the body returns to normal, allowing seniors to complete many of the activities they enjoyed prior to the stroke.

Diabetes

If your aging parent has developed diabetic retinopathy, he or she may experience changes in the retinal blood vessels. When this happens, the vessels bleed and leak out fluid, which damages eyesight. Diabetic retinopathy is one of the most common causes of vision loss among older adults living with diabetes, and it doesn’t occur instantly. It generally takes years for seniors with diabetes to experience vision loss. There are healthy lifestyle changes your loved one can make to stave off vision loss and boost his or her quality of life, such as eating healthy foods, exercising, avoiding smoking, and controlling blood sugar levels.

To reduce the risk of diabetes or other issues leading to vision loss, seniors might need assistance every day. Maintaining a high quality of life can be challenging for some seniors, but professional caregivers can help them obtain this goal. Families can trust Woodbridge in-home careexperts to help their elderly loved ones focus on lifestyle choices that increase the chances of living a longer and healthier life.

Glaucoma

Glaucoma can have serious effects on older adults, such as permanent vision loss. When glaucoma isn’t controlled, it can damage the optic nerve, causing lost patches of vision. In the beginning stages, issues with peripheral vision are typically the first type of eyesight problems seniors experience. Eye doctors can treat glaucoma with medications and various types of surgery, such as laser and traditional surgery. Keep in mind these treatments won’t preserve your parent’s entire vision. Instead, they can only preserve his or her remaining vision.

Seniors with visual impairment might need extra assistance to remain safe and comfortable at home. Living with a serious health condition can make it challenging for seniors to age in place. However, they can maintain a higher quality of life with the help of professional live-in care. Woodbridgeseniors can benefit from assistance with meal prep, bathing, transportation to the doctor’s office, medication reminders, and much more. To learn about the comprehensive care plans at Home Care Assistance, get in touch with us at (203) 444-8575.